Reality TV has been a cultural phenomenon for over two decades and has captivated audiences worldwide. Shows like Survivor where contestants strategize and compete on remote islands and Big Brother where housemates live together under constant surveillance have combined competition, social dynamics and dramatic storytelling to great effect. These formats are so engaging that they’ve gone beyond the screen and inspired live events on college campuses where community is key, reality show inspired competitions create fun and interactive experiences.
Adapting reality show concepts for campus events has many benefits beyond entertainment. These events bring together students from different majors, years and social circles - groups that wouldn’t normally interact with each other. The team-based nature of many reality competitions encourages communication and cooperation across these boundaries. Participants also develop valuable skills in strategic thinking, public speaking, teamwork and adaptability - all while having fun. The tips below will help you create campus events that participants and audience will remember long after the final tribal council or eviction ceremony.
Choose Your Reality Show Format
The first step in creating a reality show inspired campus event is to decide which show format to base it on. Reality TV shows cover a wide range of formats from more competition based to social dynamics driven. Your choice should depend on the space, resources and the type of audience you expect. Here are some popular formats to consider:
Survivor-Inspired Competitions: If you want a high energy event full of challenges and strategic alliances Survivor is a great template. Divide participants into tribes (or teams) and have them compete in various physical and mental challenges. A vote off element can also be added to heighten the drama where students must vote out members of their own tribe at the end of each challenge.
Big Brother-Inspired Social Dynamics: For a less physical event Big Brother is a great fit. Create a controlled environment (e.g. a student lounge or event space) where participants live together and must strategize, form alliances and compete in mini-challenges. Incorporate social game elements like nominations and eviction votes to keep participants engaged.
The Amazing Race-Inspired Scavenger Hunt: A The Amazing Race-inspired event is great for getting participants moving around campus. Set up a series of checkpoints across the campus where participants have to complete challenges or answer questions. The first team to reach the final destination wins but the fun comes from the unexpected twists along the way.
The Challenge-Inspired Obstacle Course: If you want something more physically intense consider using The Challenge format. Teams compete in various physical and mental challenges with some twists and eliminations thrown in. It’s a great option if your campus has large outdoor spaces but you can also adapt it to indoor settings.
The Voice-Inspired Talent Show: If you’re looking for something more creative base your event on The Voice. Participants perform their talents (singing, acting etc.) while being judged by faculty members or peers. You can even add a surprise twist by including a “blind audition” element where judges turn around to select participants based on their performance alone.
Plan Challenges and Activities
Challenges are the heart of any reality show so you should develop a variety of challenges that fit the theme of your event. Incorporate a mix of physical, mental and social tasks so there’s something for everyone.
Physical Challenges: These can include relay races, tug-of-war, obstacle courses or even scavenger hunts. Physical challenges foster teamwork and competition and are great for building energy and excitement during the event.
Mental Challenges: Logic puzzles, trivia questions and memory games are perfect for testing participants brains. Consider having teams work together to solve complex puzzles or strategize on solving challenges in a limited amount of time.
Social Challenges: These challenges mimic the strategic alliances often seen in reality shows. For example have participants create and deliver persuasive speeches, form alliances or navigate social situations to win votes or gain power. A Big Brother-inspired challenge could involve the ability to influence or sway other participants’ decisions creating opportunities for negotiation and debate. Make sure the challenges reflect the diversity of skills present on campus so students from different disciplines can shine.
Incorporate Eliminations or Rankings
One of the most exciting elements of reality shows is the tension created by eliminations or rankings. The suspense keeps viewers hooked and makes the event more dramatic. You can add an elimination round after each challenge where the weakest-performing participants or teams are “voted off” or removed from the competition.
For example in a Survivor-style event after each challenge you can hold a tribal council where participants must vote someone out of the competition. Alternatively if you’re organizing a Big Brother-inspired event you could have housemates “nominate” each other for eviction after a series of social challenges with the winner of the challenge becoming “immune.”
If you’re running a talent-based event like The Voice you can have the audience vote for their favorite performances and after each round the least popular contestant could be eliminated. You could also bring in mentors or judges to provide critiques and votes.
Engage the Audience
A major part of what makes reality TV so compelling is the drama that unfolds before the audience. For your campus event involve the audience as much as possible. Create opportunities for them to interact with the participants and influence the game. You can host live voting, allow spectators to participate in mini-challenges or provide them with the power to offer advantages (e.g. immunity) to contestants.
Incorporating social media can also enhance audience engagement. Consider creating a hashtag for the event where students can follow the action online, post photos and comment on the competition in real time. You could also set up live streams or Instagram stories to give a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and contestants’ experiences.
Create a Fun, Immersive Experience
To make your event truly memorable consider designing a set or venue that mimics the atmosphere of a reality show. For example if you’re hosting a Survivor-inspired competition create outdoor “tribal councils” with tiki torches or set up a space that feels like a camp. For Big Brother create a “diary room” for contestants to give private confessions.
A fun immersive environment helps participants get into character and adds an extra layer of excitement for the audience. The more you can mimic the atmosphere of the show the more your campus event will feel like the real thing.
The Grand Finale
Make the grand finale a big one. This is where all the drama and excitement comes together and the stakes are highest. Whether it’s a final challenge, a voting process or a talent showcase it should be a showstopper. Make it an event everyone on campus will remember by adding dramatic music, lights or even an audience vote.
Consider giving the winner a prize like a gift card to a local business or even something symbolic like a crown or trophy. It doesn’t have to be expensive!
Have Fun and Be Inclusive
Above all remember the goal is to have fun and build campus community. Ensure the event is inclusive, welcoming and accessible to all students regardless of background or ability. Make adjustments as needed to ensure everyone can participate and encourage teamwork and camaraderie. The aim is to create lasting memories so don’t forget to enjoy the process!